China sees tourism boom during May Day holiday

Tourists watch lion dance at a scenic zone in Emeishan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 30, 2017. China's tourism industry raked in 79.1 billion yuan ( billion U.S. dollars) in revenue during the International Labor Day holiday. The revenue was driven by 134 million domestic tourist trips, according to the National Tourism Administration. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)

China saw a tourism boom during the three-day May Day holiday, a sign of the country's booming tourism industry, official data showed on Monday.

The country's tourism industry raked in 79.1 billion yuan (11.5 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue during the holiday, up 16.2 percent from a year earlier, according to data from the National Tourism Administration.

During the holiday that ended on Monday, tourist destinations across China received a total of 134 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 14.4 percent.

The tourism boom came as China tries to wean its economy off over-reliance on exports and heavy industries, and shift to a growth model that draws strength from consumption, innovation and service sector.

The tourism industry is considered a driver to growth as it boosts profitability in sectors ranging from hotel, transportation to catering.

Tourists are seen outside the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China, May 1, 2017. China's tourism industry raked in 79.1 billion yuan (about 11.5 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue during the International Labor Day holiday. The revenue was driven by 134 million domestic tourist trips, according to the National Tourism Administration. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Tourists visit a scenic zone in Emeishan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 30, 2017. China's tourism industry raked in 79.1 billion yuan ( billion U.S. dollars) in revenue during the International Labor Day holiday. The revenue was driven by 134 million domestic tourist trips, according to the National Tourism Administration. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)

Tourists are seen outside the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China, May 1, 2017. China's tourism industry raked in 79.1 billion yuan (about 11.5 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue during the International Labor Day holiday. The revenue was driven by 134 million domestic tourist trips, according to the National Tourism Administration. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)